Combined clamp and sealing means for liquid-containing receptacles



T. E. LEWIS. COMBINED CLAMP AND SEALING MEANS FOR LIQUID CONTAlNlNG RECEPTAGLES. APPLI CAUON FILED OCT. 4, 1921.

1,409,458, Patented Mar. 14, 1 922.

' me-e 'rHoMAs E. LEWIS, or fronnwoRrH, TEXAS.

COMBINED CLAMP-AND SEALING MEANS-FORLIQUID CONTAINING RECEPTACLES.

I Application filed October 4, 1921.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. Lewis, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort \Vorth, in the county of Tarrant vand State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Clamps and Sealing Means for Liquid-Containing Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cans or other receptacles and more particularly to sealing means for the receptacles; and the object is to provide a combined clamp and sealing means for receptacles of various designs and particularly for milk cans and to provide a sealing means in combination with a handle or bail which will automatically seal the can opening when the clamp is put in place on the can. Another object is to provide a simple device which will safely seal the openings of cans and which can be provided at relatively small cost. Other objects and advantages will be fully explained in the following description and the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a can pr0- vided with the improvements. Fig. 2 is a similar view partly in section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a can. partly in section. showing the position of the openings in the cover. Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of the clamp. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the sealing lu p S i r nilar characters of reference are used to indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

The drawings. show a can 1 of ordinary construction. The can is provided with a top 3 which forms a stop 2 on the outside of the can. Such stop will be formed by the rolled rim of many cans. A combined clamp 4i and sealing means are provided. The handle has hooks or catches 5 which engage the-stop 2. The top 3 has openings 6 and 7 for pouring out the contents, the contents running out through one opening Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 505,391.

and air going into the can through the other opening. Rubber sealing blocks 8 are carried by the clamp 4 for sealing the openings 6 and 7. The sealing blocks 8. are attached to the handle 4 by forming the blocks with projections 9. Openings are punched in the horizontal portions of the clamp and the projections 9 are forced through these open ings. Friction will keep the blocks 8 in place. Y

The cans have tops 3 formed with indentations 10 made in the upper side of the top. The object of these indentations is to mark the points on the top which are to be punched or cut to make the openings 6 and 7 In this manner the openings will be uniform as to their position in the top.

The clamp 4 and the hooks 5 are so constructed that pressure is necessary to force the hooks 5 below the stops 2. The clamp is thus sprung on the. top and at the same Patented ar. 14, 1922.

time the rubber blocks 8 will automatically close the openings 6 and 7 and the blocks 8 will hold the cans airtight. The clamp 4: is preferably made of'the best grade of spring metal. For opening or closing, press on the 1 clamp with the thumb and at the same time press one of the blocks or stoppers 8 outwardly with the finger to loosen the hook 5 from the stop 2. The clamp may be released from either side.

What I claim is 1. A combined sealing means and clamp for canscomprising an arched steel spring bail havlng portions thereof disposed in a plane parallel'to the plane of the can top and carrying said sealing means and provided with terminals for engaging the sides of the can under the top rim, said bail serving asa handle and also as a means for releasing said terminals from the can.

2. A combined spring clamp and sealing means carried therebyifor cans comprising a bail having hooks provided with inturned ends for engaging the rim of the cover and rubber blocks carried by said clamp for sealing openings in the cover of the can.

3. A combined clamp and sealing means carried thereby for cans comprising a bail having horizontal portions and hooks pro-' rim of the cover and rubber blocks carried by the horizontal portions of said bail for sealing openings in the cover of the can.

4. A combined clamp and sealing means for a can top comprising a, bail having horizontal portions a-ndopenings therethrough and having hooks for engaging the rim of the top and rubber blockshzwing reduced THOMAS LEWIS. 

